Lifestyle cancer links

A North Shore naturopath says lifestyle choices can greatly decrease the risk of getting breast cancer.

Women's health speaker, writer, author and clinician Lynda Wharton specialises in women's health and practices traditional Chinese acupuncture.

It frustrates her that there is little attention given to breast cancer prevention. Instead, the early-detection message is pushed.

"It's a disease we can significantly impact by giving women the right information," she says.

One of her prevention measures is teaching women the association between weight and breast cancer.

A high body mass index and carrying extra weight around the middle are risk factors.

Four hours-plus exercise a week can greatly decrease that risk.

Drinking more than one unit of alcohol a day can also increase the risk, as can a deficiency in vitamin D.

Mrs Wharton says we do not get a lot of vitamin D from our diet so it needs to be supplemented by safe sun exposure.

She says one in eight women in New Zealand will develop breast cancer compared to one in 20 to 25 in China.

"This speaks volumes that breast cancer is a lifestyle disease."

She has studied traditional Chinese medicine and says emotional disharmony can upset the system.

A blockage of energy in the body can lead to lumps in the breast, she says. A high percentage of her patients have suffered emotional trauma before being diagnosed, she says.

Ms Wharton is participating in a health retreat at the Wellpark campus in Albany from March 19-21.

She will be one of four speakers to focus on different aspects of women's health. The retreat is set in eight hectares of native bush where women can relax, take walks, swim and eat organic food.

Visit her website lyndawharton.com for more information.

- © Fairfax NZ News